5. Depression

Question 1

Define depression?

Answer 1

A mood disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels

Question 2

What is depression classified as in the DSM-V?

Answer 2

A mood disorder

Question 3

What two categories can depression be broadly divided into ?

Answer 3

• unipolar depression - meaning one state of low mood, suicidal thoughts, feeling of worthlessness etc.
• bipolar depression - meaning the sufferer alternates between low mood and feelings of euphoria as well as behaviour that appears ‘out of control’.

Question 4

Give the behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 4

• low activity levels - sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy making them lethargic. In extreme cases, this can be so severe that the sufferer cannot get out of bed.
• disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia). Appetite may increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss.

Question 5

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 5

• lowered mood - more pronounced than the daily experience of feeling lethargic or sad. Suffered often describe themselves as ‘worthless’ or ‘empty’.
• anger - on occasion, such emotions lead to aggression or self-harming behaviour.
• loss of enthusiasm - depression often results in loss of interest and pleasure in usual hobbies and activities.
• lowered self-esteem - depression often results in lowered self-esteem, which means suffered have low levels of self-worth and inappropriate feelings of guilt. This can be extreme in terms of self-loathing I.e. Hating themselves

Question 6

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 6

• poor concentration - the sufferer may find themselves unable to stick with a task as they usually would, or they might find simple decision-making difficult.
• absolutist thinking - ‘black and white thinking’, when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster
• attending to and dwelling on the negative - depressed people tend to focus more on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives. In other words their glass is half empty rather than half full. They also have a tendency to recall unhappy events in their lives rather than happy ones.